Tractor plow



Feb. 3, 1942. ALTGELT 2,271,533

TRACTOR PLOW Original Filed Aug. 31, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENT OR.

BY PM K ATTORNEY.

Feb. 3, 1942. H. E. ALTGELT 2,271,533

TRACTOR PLOW Original Filed Aug. 31, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 tractorillustrated in Fig. 1;

Patented F eb. 3, 1942 Herman E. Altgelt, South Bend, ImiL, assignor to Oliver Farm Equipment Company, a corporation of Delaware Substituted for abandoned application Serial No.

292,883, filed August 31, 1939.

This applicatiOn July 26, 1940, Serial N0. 347,783

.15 Claims. (Cl. 97-47) I I The present invention relates generally to tractor plows, but more particularly ,to an overhead beam disc plow anda special form of tractor hitch by means of which one end of the plow frame is supported on the tractor. L This case is a substitute for abandoned application No. 292,883 filed August 31, 1939.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a nov-eland improved plow construction of .the overhead beam disc type in which one end 6 thereof is pivotally attached and supported on the tractor in such a manner that either'end of the plow may be adjusted for depth penetration and the steering of the land and furrow wheels controlled from the operators seat on the b tractor.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved overhead beam disc plow having a plurality of controls operable from the operators seat of the tractor and in which the number of discs supported by the overhead beam .may be increased or diminished by merely rearranging and adjusting the parts of the plow and its controls.

A still further object of the invention is to pro-; 7

vide a novel and improved type of overhead beam disc plow in which the rear end of the beam is supported on the rear furrow wheel and land wheels while the front end of the beam is supported on and adjustable with respect to a novel r and improved draw bar hitch of the tractor.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved construction of overhead beam type disc plow in combination with anovel and improved type hitch by means of which a: ,swivel connection is provided between the plow and the. tractor so that the plow as a whole may revolve or oscillate about. a longitudinally and horizontally extending axis so as to accommodate the plow structure to hilly or uneven ground and to permit a backing up the tractor under rough field conditions without disconnecting the plow upon such operation.

These and other objects are accomplished by providing a construction and anarrangement of the various parts in the manner hereinafter described and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

., Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a fragmentary portion of a conventional tractor'illustrating the manner in which my improved plow construction is attached thereto;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of. the plow and Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view taken on the line 3-3-in Fig. 2; 9

Fig.4 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the swivel connection between the draft frame and the plow frame; and I Fig. 5 is a fragmentary crosssectional View taken on the line 5-5 in Fig. 1 of the drawings.

In illustrating one form of my invention I have shown the same in connection with a more or less conventional type of agricultural tractor, a fragmentary portion of which is shown in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings and generally indicated by the reference character In. The tractor in this instance comprises the usual longitudinally extending main frame I I, rear axle l2, oppositely disposed rear traction Wheels I3, steering mechanism l4 and operators Seat l5.

In connection with my improved overhead 1 beam type disc plow, I have provided a novel and improved. tractor hitch construction which is adapted especially for supporting one end of the plow beam in such a manner that the hitch may be adjusted to vary the depth penetration of the disc into the ground or raised to elevate the disc out of engaging position at the end of the field.

The special tractor hitch in this instance is particularly adapted for myv improved plow construction, but it will of course be understood that the same may be employed as a hitch for other agricultural implements. This hitch includes a V-shaped draw bar [6 which has. its opposite forward ends pivoted as shown at I! to oppositely disposed draft brackets l8, which in turn, are secured to the opposite portions of the tractor housing on the main frame H by means of bolts I9. Secured transversely ata point intermediate the ends of the draw bar I6 is an angle member 20. Arranged transversely with respect to the tractor frame and secured by means of right and left handbrackets 2| and 22 to the tractor frame H is a transverse angle bar 23.

- is secured to the bracket 22 and transverse angle bar 23 as clearly shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings. Secured to a forwardly and outwardly pro- 30, is an operating lever 3|. The operating lever 3| is provided with a usual detent mechanism 32 for locking the same in various positions of adjustment. Formed integrally with and projecting rearwardly at a point below the pivot of the lever 3| is a curved arm 33. Pivotally connected as shown at 34 to the outer free end of the arm 33 is a swivel or buckle member 34. Slidably mounted in a vertically disposed bore in the buckle member 34 is a connecting rod 35. Adapted to be mounted in a variety of transverse apertures in the upper end of the rod 35 is a cotter pin 35. The lower end of the rod 3-5 'is provided with right angularly bent portion so as a to form the pivotal connection as shown 'at3'i to an upwardly turned end 38 of the transverse angle member 20. Mounted between the swivel,

member 34 and an adjustable collar 3 9 o n 'the rod 35 is a pressure spring '45. The collar -39 embraces the rod 35 and is adjustably secured thereto by means of a set screw 4|. Obviously from the construction thus far described it will be seen that the spring 40 normally resists upward pressure on the draft member I6, but s'houldth'e discs of the blow strike an obstruction the spring 40 substantially straight beam 42 which is diagonally disposed with respect to the longitudinal axis of' the tractor. Rotatably secured t o the beam at spaced intervals by means or'arm'sts and spindle bearing brackets 44 are disc plows -45. {Secured to the forward end of the beam 42 is adownwardly and angularly disposed draftplate45. Extending from a point adjacent the forward end of the beam and secured thereto and to the fo rward end of the plate 46 is a diagonally disposed braceand supplemental draft "member -'41.

Secured by means of bolts 48 to the supplemental'draft members 45 and 4'! is a'dr'aft bearing basting 49. Journaled in a longitudinally extending bore in the draft bracket 49 is a draft hook'll. The rear end of the drafthook 50 is provided withan en- 'larged head 5| which is adapted toengage a wall 52 formed in the bracket 49 should the occasion "arise to back the tractor in-order to release the plow when it strikes an obstruction. From this construction it will be obvious that by' having the hookswivelly connectedto thedra ft frame of the plow, that the plow frame may oscillate about a longitudinal axis with respect to the tractor frame or tractor hitch occasioned by travelling over uneven or hilly ground. The draft hook 50 of the plow is locked from disengagement from the draft bar i6 by a locking member or bracket II! which has its rearward end curved so-as to loosely engage the draft hook 5Ban'd its forward end apertured so as toreceive a bolt H9 for securing the bracket to the transverse angle member 20.

' Pivotally attached as shown at 53 to the rear "portion of the draftbracket 49 are'supporting legs or rests 54 which are normally held in their inoperative position or the'position shown in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings by'a pivoted hook 55.

The hook '55 is adapted to engage thesupplemental draft rod" for holding the same in inoperative position. Should the operator be 'desirousof disconnecting the plow from the tractor hitch the rest or support 54 may be swung to a vertical position to support the forward end of the plow frame.

The rear end of the plow beam 42 is supported 5 by a furrow wheel 56 on one side thereof and a land Wheel 5! on the other side thereof. These supporting wheels are connected to the beams 42 by means of a large transverse casting gen- I erally indlcated by the reference character 58. This casting 58 is provided with a longitudinal groove 59 in which the beam 42 is adjustably seated and secured. The casting is secured to the underside of the beam by means of transverse straps "61 and 62 and bolts 63. The strap 6| is provided with a downwardly projecting lug or pm as shown at 64 which is adapted to en- 7 gage one of the series of apertures or recesses 55 spaced apart and located on the top side of the beam 42, for properly locating the casting 58 in various positions along the beam so that additional discs may be added in the manner hereinafter "more fully described. Formed integrally with one end of the bearing casting 58 is'a vertically disposed bearing barrel 66 in which '25 is adjustably journaledthe'vertical portion 61 of the furrow wheel axle. Formed integrally with the other end of the casting 58 is a second ver- 'tically "disposed bearing barrel 68 in which is journal'ed the vertical portion 69 of the land Wheel axle. 'Ri'gidly secured adjacent the upper end of the furrow wheel axle is a crank arm 10. Rigidly secured to the upper end of the land wheel axle 69 is a crank bracket H. Rigidly securedby means of bolts 12 to sockets formed 'in thecrank bracket TI is a lever member 13 so as to form in effect an outwardly projecting crank 14 and an inwardly projecting crank 15. The outer or free "ends of the arms 10 and 14 are connected-by anadjustable tierod 16. The rear 'end of the tierod 16 has a right'angularly bent portion as shown at 1-1 for pivotally connecting the same-to the free end of the arm HI. The other end of the tierod 16 is provided with an external threaded portion which engages in threaded engagement therewith a threaded sleeve or-bucl-ile 1'8. Thethreaded buckle is provided with a downwardly extending pin portion as shown at '18 to engage the outer or free end 0f the crank arm 14. -Pivotally connected as shown at 119' to the outer or free end of the lever or arm 15 is a connection 80. The connection 1851s adjustably connected to -a second connection 8!. The connection 8| is provided with '-'a plurality of apertures '82 in which bolts 83 may be inserted 'for lengthening or shortening the -'con'nection between these two operative parts. Pivotally connected as'shown 'at"84 adjacent the forward end of the connection 8l is an operating lever '85. The operating lever '85 is pivotally 0 connected as shown at 86 'to a thir'dcorin'e'c'tion 81. The forward portion of the connection-or 'member"8l is positioned below, parallel to and co-extensive with the rear p'ortion'of the 'connection or member 81. Securedto the rear end 'of the connection 87is a lever sector '88. The

lever 85 is provided with the usual 'd'etentmechanism generally indicated by the reference character 89 for adjusting the lever '85 with respect to the sector 88. The forward end of the 'second connection 8| "is pivotally connected to aninter- --me'diate=poi"tion of the third connection '81 by means "of a link 90. The 'forward'e'nd :of the connection 81 'is '.pivotally connected as shown at 9| to the transverse angle bar 23, which in turn is secured to the tractor'frame M. 'It will I the tractor.

bolt 98 and 99 is a lever sector I00.

be obvious from the above that the lever 85 is sition by the mani ulation of that lever for maklocated within easy reach of the operators seat I on the tractor so that upon a manipulation of the lever the angular position of the furrow wheel 56 and land wheel 51 may be adjusted so as to effectively change the angular position of these wheels in order to overcome any side draft occasioned by the contour or unevenness of the ground being plowed.

Another important feature of the present invention includes the provision for manually adjusting the rear furrow wheel and includes an operating mechanism or lever 92 which extends within easy reach of the operators seat I5 on The rear end of the lever 92 is pivoted as shown at 93 to a vertically extending standard 94. The lower end of the vertically extending standard 94 is pivoted on a pin 95 which in turn is journaled in two horizontally spaced vertical ears 96 formed integrally with the casting 58. The standard 94 is braced against lateral movement by a diagonal brace 91 which has its lower end pivoted on the pin 95 adjacent the inner ear 96 and its upper end secured to a bolt 98 intermediate the ends of the standard 94. Secured to the standard 94 by means of a The lever 92 is provided with a detent mechanism generally indicated by the reference character ID! for looking the leverin various positions of adjustmentv with respect to the sector.

particular instance is made of two sections I02 and I03. The section I03 is provided with a plurality of spaced apart apertures I04 through which the bolts I05 may be inserted for changing -the effective length of the lever.

the casting 58 and the associated furrow and land wheels are removed rearwardly in order to accommodate the insertion of additional 'or more discs to the beam. Formed integrally with the rear end of the lever 92 is an arm I09. Secured to the arm I09 by means of bolts IIO are oppositely disposed fork-like members III. The forklike members III are pivotally connected to oppositely disposed bearing studs II2 of the buckle H3. The buckle H3 is journaled on the upper end of the furrow wheel axle and is held from displacement with respect thereto by upper and lower cotter pins II4. Pivotally connected as shown at II'5 to the arm I09 of the lever 92 is a balancing or extension spring II6, the lower end of which is connected to an ear on the casting 58.

Summarizing the advantages and. method of operation of my overhead beam type disc plow, it will be noted I have operatively connected the same through means of a novel tractor hitch on vwhich one of the ends of the plow is entirely regulated thereby or elevated to inoperativepo- The lever 92in this.

ing the turns at the end of the field or for transporting purposes. Should the plow structure exert side draft on one side or the other of the plow by reason of the contour of the ground, the land and furrow wheels may be angularly adjusted with respect to their vertical axis by manipulating the lever 85 from the operators seat on the tractor. The furrow wheel 56 may be adjusted for regulating thedepth penetration of the disc through the medium of the lever 92 which is within easy reach of the operators seat on the tractor. The sector I00 and operating lever 9 in this instance is pivotally mounted on a vertical standard 94 which in turn is braced against lateral movement by a brace bar 91 on a pin 95 as clearly shown in Fig. 5 of the drawings. The arrangement of the spring I I6 connecting thearm I09 of the lever 92 affords a novel arrangement for balancing the rear end of the plow frame and assisting the manipulation of the le- From theabove description it will also be noted that by having the main casting 58 adjustable longitudinally of the beam 42 so that the pin 64 of the strap 6| may engage a variety of apertures 65 in the top surface of the beam 42, the furrow wheel 56 and land wheel 51 may be moved longitudinally of the beam at definite intervals for the insertion of additional discs 45. When this is done the lever 92 and its associated detent mechanism as well as the connections and 8| of the lever may be lengthened so as to adapt the operating or control mechanism in conformity with the extended length of the plow structure.

Should the operator desire to disconnect the plow from the draft frame of thetractor the foot rest 54 is lowered to vertical position, the locking bracket II'I removed by removing the bolt II 9 from the transverse angle member 20 and by disconnecting the connection 81 from the transverse frame member 23 the tractor may be backed to disengage the draft bar I6 from the draft hook 50.

As hereinbefore pointed out, the draft hook 50 is swivellingly connected on a longitudinal axis in the draft bracket 49 so that the plow structure as a whole may revolve about a longitudinal and horizontal axis with respect to the tractor frame so as to accommodate the plow to the unevenness of the ground. At the same time the draft hook 50 with its locking bracket II8 permits the backing of the tractor without disengaging the plow therefrom.

While in the above specification I have described one embodiment which my invention may assume in practice, it will of course be understood that the same is capable of modification and that modification may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as expressed in the'following claims.

What I claim is my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. The combination with a tractor of an overhead beam type plow attached thereto, means for supporting one end of said beam on said tractor, a land wheel pivoted to said beam adjacent the rear end of said beam, a furrow wheel pivoted adjacent the rear end of said beam, a tierod connecting said wheels together, two longitudinally extending members connecting said wheels with said tractor, and a lever having substantially vertically spaced apart pivots on the adjacent portions of said members for controlling the angularityof said wheels.

2. The combination with a tractor of an overhead beam type plow attached thereto, means for supporting one end of said beam on said tractor, a land wheel pivoted to said beam adjacent the rear end of said beam, a furrow wheel pivoted adjacent the rear end of said-beam,'a tierod con necting said wheels together, manually operable.

means including two partially co-extensive members operatively connecting'said tierod with the frame of said tractor, and a lever pivotally connected to the adjacent portions of said members whereby upon the operation of said lever the angularity of said wheels may be controlled.

3. The combinationwith a tractor of a plow attached thereto having one end supported on said tractor, land and furrow wheels supporting the rear end of said plow, said land and furrow wheels angularly adjustable with rspect to said plow for controlling the side draft of said plow, operative connections between said wheels and said tractor for adjusting the 'angularity of said wheels, a swivel draft hook journaled on a longitudinal axis forming the connection between said plow'and said tractor whereby said plow may follow the uneven contour of the ground independent of said tractor, and a locking bracket carried by said tractor and 'engageable with said draft hook for locking said draft hook to said tractor.

4. The combination with a tractor of a plow attached thereto having one end supported on said tractor, land and furrow wheels supporting the rear end of said plow, said land and furrow wheels angularly adjustable with respect to said plow for controlling the side draft of said plow, operative connections between said wheels and said tractor for adjusting the angularity of said wheels, a draft hook journaled on a longitudinally extending axis on said ,plow for permitting said plow to oscillate laterally with respect to said tractor, and means carried by said tractor and engageable with said draft hook for locking said draft hook to said tractor.

5. The combination with a tractor of an overhead beam disc plow having one end of said beam supported on said tractor, discs carried by said beam, land and furrow wheels supporting the other end of said beam, said wheels angularly adjustable with respect to said beam, manually adjustabl means including two longitudinally extending parallel members having their adjacent portions co-extensive with one another and a manual operative lever pivoted to the coextensive portions of said 'members for controlling the angularity of said wheels, and means for longitudinally adjusting said wheels with respect to said beam whereby additional discs may be mounted on said beam.

6. The combination with a tractor of an overhead beam disc plow having one end of said beam supported on said tractor, discs carried by said plow, land and furrow wheels for supporting the other end of said beam, means for operatively connecting said wheels together, means for connecting said wheels with said tractor, and manual operative means including two longitudinally extending parallel members having portions co-extensive with one another and a manually operable lever pivoted to the co-extensive portions of said members for controlling the angularity of said wheels.

'7. The combination with a tractor of an overhead beam disc plow having one end of said beam supported on said tractor, discs carried by said plow, land and furrow wheels for supporting M the other end of said beam, means for oper- ,atively -;connecting said wheels together, adjustablemeans for connecting said wheel's to said tractor including two longitudinally extending members having their adjacent portions coextensivewith one another, and a lever pivotally connected to the adjacent portions of said members and operable :from the operators seat on said tractor for controlling the angularity of said wheels.

8. The combination with a tractor of a disc plow including a diagonally disposed beam, a

plurality of spaced apart discs carried by said beam, a hitch forming the connection between one :end of :said'beam and said tractor including a V-shaped draw bar, said draw bar having forward end pivoted to said tractor, a lever mounted on said tractor, operative connections between said lever and said draw bar for adjusting one end of said beam and a swivel draft hook journaled'ona longitudinal axis adjacent the forward "end of said beam for permitting said plow to follow the uneven contour of the ground independent of said tractor.

9. The combination with .a tractor of a plow having one end supported thereon, furrow and .land wheels supporting the other end of said plow, means for vertically adjusting said furrow wheel with respect to said plow including a standard pivoted to said plow, a manually operable lever pivoted to said standard, operative connections .between said lever and said furrow wheel, andabalancing spring between said lever and said plow.

'10. The combination with a tractor of a plow having one end supported thereon, furrow and land-wheels having vertically disposed axle portion journaled on and supporting the other end of said plow, means for vertically adjusting said fur-row wheel with respect to said plow including a vertically disposed standard pivoted to said plow, a lever pivoted to said standard and projecting forwardly. with respect to its pivot, said lever having a'rearwardly projecting portion operatively connected to the vertically extending portion of said furrow wheel axle, and a spring positioned between the rear portion of said lever and said plow for acounterbalancing the weight on said .lever.

-11. The combination with a tractor of a'plow including a diagonally disposed beam having one end supported on said tractor, discs carried by barrels, means engageable with depressions in said beam for definitely ,locating'said casting in certain positions along said beam whereby additional discs may be added to said plow, and

means for clamping said casting to said beam.

12. The combination with a tractor of a plow including a diagonally disposed beam having one endsupported on said tractor, discs carried by said beam, a transversely disposed casting adjustably secured to said beam, bearing barrels located at the opposite sides of said casting, land and furrow wheel axles journaled in said bearing barrels, and transverse straps for clamping said casting to said beam, certain of said straps having a projection engageable with certain recesses in said beam for aiding additional discs to said plow.

13. The combination with a tractor, of an overhead beam type plow attached thereto, means for supporting one end of said beam 'on said tractor, a land wheel pivoted to said beam adjacent the rear end thereof, a furrow wheel pivoted adjacent the rear end of said beam, a tierod connecting said wheels together, operative connections between said tie-rod and the frame of said tractor including two longitudinally and relatively movable members, and means pivotally connected to both of said members for controlling the angularity of said wheels.

14. The combination with a tractor, of an overhead beam type plow attached thereto, means for supporting one end of said beam on said tractor, a land wheel pivoted to said beam adjacent the rear end thereof, a furrow wheel pivoted adjacent the rear end of said beam, a tie-rod connecting said wheels together, operative connections between said tie-rod and the frame of said tractor including two longitudinally and relatively movable members, and a lever pivotally connected to both of said members and operable from the tractor seat on said tractor for controlling the angularity of said wheels.

15. The combination with a tractor, of an overhead beam type plow attached thereto, means for supporting one end of said beam on said tractor, a land wheel pivoted to said beam adjacent the rear end thereof, a furrow wheel pivoted adjacent the rear end of said beam, a tie-rod connecting said wheels together, operative connections between said tie-rod and the frame of said tractor including two longitudinally and relatively movable members, a locking sector mounted on one of said members, a lever pivoted to said last named member and operatively connected to said sector, and means for connecting the other of said member to said lever for controlling the angularity of said wheels.

HERMAN E. ALTGELT. 

